Thursday, December 15, 2011

Best brown of 2011…almost didn’t post this

(Above: A magnificent brown trout and one of my best. No tape, no weight and it went back after this shot. Possibly one of my best brown trout ever and my vote for best fish of the year. Caught this fish back in October and almost didn’t post it up at all.)

It was one of those moments when the fish came up from the deep to chase the lure and I could see the fish before he made the strike. My fingers were on the reel handle keeping just enough tension to keep the lure dancing in the strike zone while holding my breath in the October air.

Bump, bump. The fish is curious more than hungry and willing to play rather than commit. I lift the rod tip giving the lure a faster motion in the water. Just like some dogs chase cars, most big fish chase anything that runs. A slight tease on the lure makes the fish more interested and the next thump puts a heavy tug on the line. The fight seemed to last forever. Land the fish and Don is right there covering the photo op. Without a doubt this is one of my better shameless bragging fish photos…Don, you are the best!

This fish hit the bleeding gold spinner bug. One of the few that have even bothered giving this color a second look this year. Sometimes it doesn’t pay to hunt through the box looking for the hot pattern. All it takes sometimes is to throw that one pattern that one big fish is willing to hit.

@Shoreman: Always dig a Shoreman post and really glad to see you back blogging. In this particular case what the fish wanted was anything big and on the run. Right place, right time. Most of my fish are caught on luck and determination.

@TexWisGirl: Oh you delight my comment section to no end. The color and dots of this fish are absolutely spectacular. I could have tilted the angle a little more on the fish. Really I am glad that the photo came off without me peeing myself.

@Doc Outlaw: Thanks Outlaw!!! Crimp de barbz n lettum go. May this fish be caught and released a hundred more times.

@Howard Levett: Anytime you stop by is all right with me. Yes, I do fly-fish...sometimes. Some places only allow the long rod and summer is dry fly heaven. The rest of the time I typically spin to win and tend to get a lot of crap for it in Colorado. If Teddy Roosevelt were still alive he might tell me, “Nice fish. But you cheated.” As long as the fish goes back hopefully we could agree to disagree.

@Bill Trussell: Truth be told my heart races every time that I feel that bump. It never gets old. On a good fish like this I stop breathing. 3-4 pounds would be a good guess. Unfortunately there was no official weight. A good guess is all we can do.

@Daniel: It doesn’t happen often but ever once in a while I do catch a decent fish. Thank you for stopping by.

About Me

Hello, my name is Matt and I’m a fishaholic. Fishing is more than a recreational sport for me it is an obsession. On the water or at its edge my quest is for the ultimate in the quality fishing experience. Sometimes that means an isolated puddle of water with big fish or those glorious days when the fish seem to just jump in the boat. Maybe it is how the sunlight sparkles off the water and makes this crazy world all fall back into perspective. At least for the moment it does.
This journal will hopefully allow others to share in my fishing adventures, endless rants and shameless bragging. Thank you for stopping by.